Rowing journey across Fehmarnbelt: Winsener completes 22km of non-motorized paddling.
Heyy there! Let's explore stand-up paddling, a sport that's been taking the world by storm, and Bastian Grimm, a local hero hailing from Winsen near Hamburg who's been making waves in the world of SUP!
Once upon a time in the quaint waters of Winterhude's Rondeelteich, you could spot stand-up paddlers gliding effortlessly across the water, their boards outshining canoes and pedal boats. It might seem like a laid-back and leisurely activity, but for some, it's a career. And one such person is our very own Bastian Grimm!
Bastian, a talented water sports enthusiast, became the German champion last year on the Ostsee, sailing 10 kilometers in just under an hour on his board. Remarkably, he transitioned from windsurfing into SUP after Schleswig-Holstein's closed beaches during the pandemic. These days, he trains tirelessly, up to 14 hours a week!
Mastering the Fehmarn Belt Challenge
But let's talk about the big one: Bastian was the first to conquer the Fehmarn Belt on a SUP board! If you're not familiar, that's a whopping 22 kilometers across the Baltic Sea, facing the unforgiving force of waves and gigantic container ships.
"Ships were the biggest challenge," Bastian recalls. "There's a far bigger contrast between boats on the Elbe and those in the shipping lane - it's night and day!" That's why he had a boat escorting him, just in case. His SUP crossing took an impressive two hours and 23 minutes!
A Self-Funded Quest
A documentary about his adventure recently aired in Lübeck, with talks of screenings in Hamburg ongoing. While Bastian has a few sponsors, he primarily funds his sporting endeavors himself. "It’s not about the money, it’s a passion," Bastian says. And ain't that the truth!
Bastian's next project? Crossing the ocean from Cuxhaven to Helgoland - a whole new challenge at 60 to 80 kilometers! And his ultimate dream? To see SUP represented at the Olympics in Brisbane in 2032. But by then, he might just be using the board for leisure instead of competing professionally. Who knows? Maybe you'll spot him paddling on the peaceful waters of the Rondeelteich!
Stand-up paddling offers various professional paths, including being a sponsored athlete, an instructor, or even working for a paddleboarding brand. Although no top local athlete from near Hamburg has been specifically identified, Bastian counts among the cream of the crop in the world of SUP!
Sports enthusiast Bastian Grimm continues to push boundaries in the world of stand-up paddling, as he gears up for his next challenge: crossing the ocean from Cuxhaven to Helgoland. Despite the grueling training schedule, he remains passionate about the sport, potentially seeing it represented at the Olympics in Brisbane in 2032.
